Mutilated gearing



J n- 1951 R. E. CLYNE ,5 6,

MUTILATED GEARING Filed March 30, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet -1..

3% 54mm! W RE. CLYNE MUTILATED GEARING Jan. 2, 1951 Filed M'arCh 3t 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Hill L In Vl/l/IA a Patented Jan. 2, 1951 "STATES .MUTILATED GEARING Robert E. Clyne, Monroe Township,

Miami County,- @hio Application March 30, 1948, Serial No. 17,937

4 Claims.

device; employed in a target throwing trap mechanjsm.

1]: is-anobject of-this invention to provide sueh a'structure. cap-able'of being; remotely controlled to efiect release of a target trap to projectatarget therefrom and to subsequently recock "the trap, all with one'rotation of arotatable member. It is a further object of this invention to provide such a structure employing .a mutilated gear and in which means are provided to ensure positioningof the'toothless,portion of said gear adjacent a driving pinion between cycles of operationthereof.

It: is a further, object ofgthisinvention to provide,-in a mutilated gear mechanism, safety means to preventbreaking of any of .the gear teeth when the mutilated-gear. and driving pinion are first moved into me'sh with each other. 7

it is a still-further object of this invention to provide such a device that "is simple in constructienand operation-with subsequent economy f-manufacture.

1;Further objects andadvantages of the invention-will become ;apparent, as v the description proceeds inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure-1 isasectional view through a protective housing generallyprovided for a target trap and showing-an embodiment of .the present inventiqntherein;

j-Figurefl is-a partial sectional 'viewof. the subject'matterof this invention with. power means omitted-therefrom ;for clarity of illustration;

Figures i s-a schematic wiring 'diagram of the circuitsemployed in ,the present invention;

Figure ivisga-side elevational .viewof'the subject matter with certain partsbroken away; and,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken.

substantially along theaxis of the large gear of Eigure i, but showing certain partsin elevation. gInFigurey-l ofthe drawings, numeral indicetesgenerally atarget throwing trap of con ventional construction wherein an operating member-2 :mayybe actuated toward the left .a o d ian to, e ease a ing loaded mechanism of the target trapto project a clay pigeon orother targetinto the air through the open side o f'j'the protectivehousing.3. Movement of h m er 2 to the ri ht. afterrelease .of the throwing-mechanism operates on the, target trap. to re-cock the spring mechanism referred to.

The op rating, m mber? is shown as comprising'a'portion attached'tothe target trap, a portion attached to the mechanism indicatedgenna ly at "Lend. nternal y hr aded. sleeve, 5

'2 threadedly connected to adjacent ends of each of the portions referred to. The threaded sleeve 5 be manipulated to effectively shortenor lengthen the operating member 2 for a'. purpose to be later'described.

The mechanism 4 will now" be "described'' in greater detail. With particular reference to Figure'5, a base member 6 supports a pair'of bushing brackets I in which anti-friction 'bear ings 8 support a shaft fi'for rotation. Keyed or otherwise fastenedto the shaft"?! for rotation therewith are a, gear IE1 and'a crank arm I I. The gear to is provided throughout most'of its periphery with gear teeth i2 (Fig. 4) but apredetermined sector of the gear ID, as indicated at It, has'theteeth omitted therefrom. Suchgears are commonly known in the art'as" mutilated gears and hereinafter the term multilated' gear will be employed to define suchua'gear as just described.

A .crank' pin I4 is'mounted on the free end of the crank arm II and is heldthereto by'a nut E5. The free end of the crank pin M'has mounted thereon an adjustable second crank arm' IS. The crank arm 15 is adjustable about the axis of the crank pin 14 and is held in 'adjustediposition' by a nut'llthreaded tothefree end'of the crank pin Hi. The secondcrank arm 16 carries a second crank pin [8 atthe free end'thereof. "The purpose of the second adjustable crank armlt will appear later.

The Operating'member'Z described in connection with Figure 1 is journaled' at one end thereof to the crank pin H5 in any suitable manner, to be operated thereby. v e

The web portion l9 (see'Fig. 2) of the gear I0 is provided with an opening 2!] in which an abutment element 2| is mounted and held by means of a nut 22. The'abutment element 2| projects laterally from the web of the gear It. The right. hand bracket], as seen in Figure 2, is' provided with. a fixed guide sleeve 23 project ing therethrough andhaving a slidable stop element '24 mounted therein. The slidable 'stop element 2d hasv a reduced portion 25* projecting from the right hand end of the guide sleeve and surrounded by a compression spring 26. Thecompression spring 26 abuts at one end against a shoulderv on the stop element 24 and at its other end against aninturned flange on the guide sleeve 23, all as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The. guide sleeve is sopositioned that the spring 26. will urge the stop element '24- to the left so thatits outermost end lies in the path of rotation of the abutmentelement Zl-parried by the gear Ill.

the web of the gear l after its end has entered the path of movement of the abutment element 2|. The reduced end portion of the stop element 24 is connected in any suitable manner to the armature 28 of a suitable solenoid indicated generally at 29.

The base 6 also supports guide means 30 so designed and shaped as to provide a rectilinear guideway for a carrier 3| slidably carried thereby. Mounted on the carrier 3| is a gear motor indicated generally at 32 and comprising an output shaft 33 on which a driving pinion 34 is keyed or otherwise attached. The guideway provided by the members 30 and the extent of movement of the carrier 3| thereon is such that the drive pinion 34 may be moved by said carrier into position to properly mesh with the teeth of the gear ID. If desired, the guideway just described may be provided with anti-friction means, such as ball or roller bearings.

A threaded rod 35 is attached in any suitable manner to the rear of the carrier 3| and slidably passes through an opening in a bracket 36 attached to the base 6. A pair of lock nuts 31 and a washer 38 on the threaded rod 35 provide an abutment between which, and the bracket 35, a compression spring 39 is confined. The compression spring- 39 surrounds the rod 35 which latter also has a pair of lock nuts 4% thereon to limit the expansion of the spring 39 and consequently the movement of the carrier 3! to the left, as seen in Figure 4.

It will be apparent that the lock nuts 4|! may be so adjusted that the carrier 3| will be urged by the compression spring 39 to a position where the pitch circle of the pinion 34 is substantially tangent to the pitch circle of the gear H), which is the proper driving relationship for a pair of meshed gears. It will also be apparent that the carrier 3| is capable of movement to the rig-ht,

as seen in Figure 4, against the pressure of the spring 39.

All of the parts are so relatively positioned and adjusted that the mid-portion of the toothless sector I3 of the gear ID will be positioned adjacent the pinion 34 when the abutment element 2| is in engagement with the stop element 24. In this position, the pinion 34 can continue to rotate continuously without engaging any portion of the gear I0, and the gear I0 may thus remain stationary even though the motor 32 and pinion 34 are rotating continuously.

A tension spring 4| is attached at one end, as at 42, to the base 6 and at its opposite end to a swivel element 6|] rotatably mounted on the second crank pin l8 described above. The second crank arm I6 will be so adjusted relative to the crank pin i4 that when the teeth of the driving pinion 34 are in mesh with the teeth |2 of the gear I!) and approaching the toothless sector l3, with the gear as turning counter-clockwise, the line of action of the tension spring 4| will have just passed below the axis of the shaft 9. Thus, it will be seen that as the meshing portions of the pinion 34 and the gear i9 approach the toothless sector IS, the spring 4| will become efiective to impart a counter-clockwise torque to the gear I3, tending to continue rotation of said gear 10 in the same direction and as soon as the toothless sector |3 has been reached. the gear it will be rotated solely under the influence of the spring 4| until the abutment 2| engages the stop 24 at which time the parts will be in the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. In this position, the operating member 2 will have completed QQQK- ingof the target trap and be in position whereby an additional movement to the left will release the trap mechanism. The length of the operating member 2 may be so adjusted, by sleeve 5, that in the stopped position described, release of the target projecting mechanism is just imminent.

The solenoid 29 is in an electrical circuit including a manually operable switch located at some convenient remote point, usually somewhere near the station from which a marksman shoots at projected targets. When the marksman is ready for the next shot, he will announce the fact and a designated person will momentarily close the switch referred to, thus completing the circuit through the solenoid windings which will move the armature 28 to the right (Fig. 2) and withdraw the stop 24 from the abutment element 2|. As soon as the stop 24 has been so moved, the gear |U will be free to rotate, under the influence of the tension spring 4|, to move the toothless sector thereof past the pinion and bring the teeth of said gear into meshing relation with. the pinion 34. As soon as such meshing relationis attained the rotating pinion 34 will assume; control of the gear i0 and rotate it through onecomplete revolution until the toothless sector again comes opposite the pinion.

The operator of the solenoid switch will hol the switch closed only long enough for the abut-- ment' 2| to move past the stop position. He will then allow the switch to open, thus de-energizing. the solenoid and allowing spring 26 to move stop 24 back into position to engage the abutment 2| when the latter has completed one cycle of rotation with gear H Obviously, if desired, the circuit including the solenoid may be provided with a timing mechanism whereby closing of the switch 54 will throw control of the solenoid circuit to the said timing mechanism, which latter will hold the circuit closed for a period of time,

and consequently the crank arm I I and operating member 2 will be given a rapid movement by the spring 4|. It is this,movement which occurs preliminary to the engaging of the teeth l2 with the pinion 34 that moves the operating member 2 sufficiently to the left to release the cooked spring mechanism of the target trap and the further rotation of the gear l6 by the pinion 34 will actuate the member 2 in a direction and to the extent necessary to re-cock the target trap.

When the stop 24 is withdrawn and the geariil released to the action of the spring 4|, it often happens that the first tooth to approach meshing engagement with the pinion- 34 will strike the end surface of one of the teeth of said pinion rather than pass smoothly into a space.

between pinion teeth. In such an event, breakage of either a gear tooth, or pinion tooth orboth will follow unless some safety means are provided. The slidable carrier 3| on which the motor and pinion are mounted constitutes sucha safety means.

In the event just described, improper engagement between teeth of the gear ID and the pinion 34 will result in a reaction tending to push the pinion and gear apart and the spring 39 will allow the enti e power assembly and its carrier-3| to move away from the gear i sufficiently to allow the teeth of the pinion and gear to assume proper meshing relationship.

Referring to Figure 3, which schematically indicates the circuits for the device of the present invention, numeral 59 indicates power lines through which electrical energy is supplied to the device and may, if desired, be provided with a master switch i. The power lines 59 are connected to the terminals of the motor 32 and when the switch M is closed, the motor will commence operation and continue rotating until the switch 55 is again open. Also connected to the motor terminals are conductors 52 and 53. The conductor 52 extends from one motor terminal to a manually operable switch 55, which is the remotely located solenoid switch referred to above, and thence through conductor 55 to one end of the solenoid windings 56. From the other end of the solenoid windings, the conductor connects with a safety fuse plug 58 which is in turn connected to the conductor 56. Thus, it will be seen that closing of the switch 34 will complete a circuit through the solenoid to efiect withdrawal of the stop member 24.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that various modifications may be resorted to and it is contemplated that all such modifications be included within the purview of this invention, limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a motion transmitting mechanism, a rotatable mutilated gear, a driving pinion therefor, stop means engageable with said gear to stop rotation thereof when said pinion is opposite the mid-portion of the toothless sector of said gear, means for temporarily withdrawing said stop means from engagement with said gear, and resilient means urging said gear to rotate past said stop means whereby when said stop means is withdrawn said gear will be rotated by said resilient means to move said toothless sector past said pinion and bring the teeth of said gear into mesh with said pinion.

2. In a motion transmitting mechanism, a rotatable mutilated gear, a driving pinion therefor, stop means engageable with said gear to stop rotation thereof when said pinion is opposite the mid-portion of the toothless sector of said gear, means for temporarily withdrawing said stop means from engagement with said gear, and resilient means urging said gear to rotate past said stop means whereby when said stop means is withdrawn said gear will be rotated to move said toothless sector past said pinion and bring the teeth of said gear into mesh with said pinion, said means for withdrawing said stop means comprising a solenoid connected to the said stop means to withdraw the same upon energization of said solenoid.

3. In a motion transmitting mechanism, a base, a mutilated gear rotatabiy mounted on said base, a cream arm nxed relative to said gear, cram; pin nxed to said cram; arm, a second cranic arm carried by said cram; pin and adjustable about the axis tnereoi, a second crank pin on said second cram: arm, a tension spring iiXed at one end to said base and at the other end to said second CIaIlK pin, abutment means rotatable with said gear, stop means movabiy carried by said base for movement into and out OI the path of movement of said abutment means, means normally urging said stop means into the path or' said abutment, means I01 moving said stop means out or said path, a carrier movably mounted on said base for movement toward and irom said gear along a path generaliy parallel to the plane of said gear, power means mounted on said carrier and including a driving pinion in position to mesh with said gear, resilient means urging said carrier toward said gear, and stop means for limiting the movement of said carrier under the influence of said resilient means, the reiative positions of the parts being such that when the driving teeth oisaid pinion enter the toothless sector of said gear the line of action of said tension spring will be such as to continue rotation of said gear until said abutment engages said stop, at which time said pinion will be opposite the mid-portion of said toothless sector, and when said stop means is withdrawn said tension spring will further rotate said gear to bring the'teeth thereof into mesh with said pinion.

4. In a motion transmitting mechanism, a rotatable mutilated gear, a drivin pinion therefor, positive stop means engageable with said gear to stop rotation thereof when said pinion is opposite the mid-portion of the toothless sector of said gear, and means urging said gear to rotate to a position to engage said stop means when said pinion enters said toothless sector, said last-named means comprising a tension spring attached at one end thereof to a crank pin fixed relative to said gear.

ROBERT E. CLYNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 495,429 McMillan Apr. 11, 1893 629,027 Brown July 18, 1899 762,353 Schulte June 14, 1904 846,690 Newman et a1 Mar. 12, 1907 1,394,663 Brennan Oct. 25, 1921 1,642,606 De Jouette Sept. 13, 1927 2,204,241 Young June 11, 1940 2,432,155 Herold Dec. 9, 1947 

